With Trout atop a lineup that features Pujols, Hamilton and Mark Trumbo, among others, Los Angeles’ offense should be staggeringly good. Trout had one of the great rookie seasons of all time—he became the first player ever to steal 45 bases, score 125 runs and hit 30 homers in a season.

Hamilton, of course, comes with a few uncertainties, including a history of nagging injuries and past issues with substance abuse. But he did hit 43 homers and drive in 128 runs last season.

Pujols, who signed a $240 million deal before last season, was batting .190 with one homer on May 8, but the superstar first baseman finished with a .285 average and 30 homers (both career lows but still impressive). He also had a team-high 105 RBIs.

The rest of the Angels’ lineup is solid, and although there were concerns about Trumbo’s second half drop-off (his average slipped from .348 on May 30 to .268, and he hit five homers in the final two months), he led the team with 32 homers and drove in 95 runs.

Los Angeles did lose a significant free agent when right fielder Torii Hunter, coming off one of the best years of his career at 37, signed with the Detroit Tigers.

Ernesto Frieri had an outstanding 2012 season with 80 strikeouts and 23 saves, but he will move into a setup role because the team signed free-agent closer Ryan Madson. Madson missed 2012 with the Cincinnati Reds after Tommy John surgery, but he saved 32 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011. Lefthanded reliever Sean Burnett was also added.

It’s a good thing the bullpen looks solid because the rotation might need to lean on it often. The Angels lost Zack Greinke to free agency, declined Dan Haren’s option and traded Ervin Santana. To replace them, LA acquired two midlevel starters, picking up Tommy Hanson in a trade with the Atlanta Braves and signing Joe Blanton. And then the team made another bold move. With Hamilton on board, they shipped DH Kendrys Morales to the Seattle Mariners for lefthanded starter Jason Vargas.

3 REASONS TO BELIEVE

Mr. Dependable: Jered Weaver. The righthander leads a far less heralded rotation than the one that broke camp last season. There now seems to be Weaver and four questions, including Wilson. Weaver has finished in the top five in the AL Cy Young Award voting in each of the past three seasons, and he led all AL starters last season with 20 wins, a 1.018 WHIP and 7.0 hits per nine innings

X-factor: Mike Trout. Following up a historic rookie season with something better is a tall order, but Trout wasn’t an ordinary rookie in 2012. In fact, he had a strong case for being the league’s MVP. If he doesn’t slump in his sophomore season, he will make the Angels’ lineup the best in the majors. If he does slump, LA will be in trouble.

On deck: Mark Trumbo. When you hit 32 homers, have a 126 OPS-plus and drop jaws during the Home Run Derby, it’s hard to consider the following season as a chance to break out. But that’s the case for Trumbo. He has been overshadowed on a star-studded squad but if he shows last season’s numbers are what the Angels can expect from him each season, he won’t be an afterthought any longer.

— Anthony Witrado

TEAM SNAPSHOT

OFFENSE: The Angels have Trout, Pujols and Hamilton, each of whom was among the AL’s top 15 home run hitters in 2012. Hunter was a significant departure, but then the Angels added Hamilton.

DEFENSE: Trout’s spectacular play in the outfield helped Los Angeles tie Seattle atop the league in defensive efficiency. The Angels did make 26 more errors than the Mariners, though.

ROTATION: The Angels didn’t keep Greinke, Haren or Santana, but they acquired Vargas, Hanson and Blanton. And Weaver and Wilson remain two of the best in the league.

BULLPEN: The relief corps had a lot to do with why the Angels fell behind in the AL West: Relievers blew 22 saves, tied for most in the AL. But Madson could help turn things around.

BENCH: If Vernon Wells has a bounce-back year, Los Angeles might have a decent, though very expensive, weapon on the bench. There are no real standouts here: Hank Conger is the backup catcher; speedy Andrew Romine takes over the backup infield spot.

SCOUT’S VIEW

A major league scout analyzes SP Jered Weaver:

“His strength is his ability to throw any pitch for a strike in any count, any situation. He doesn’t rely on velocity as much as he did, but his secondary pitches are even better now. You have to find the balance of selective aggressiveness to get to him. His only weakness is the back issues he’s had, but he’s incredibly deceptive and pitches up in the zone well, better than anyone in the game. He’s difficult for righthanded hitters. Great competitor, wants the ball.”

KEY STAT

The Angels’ eight wins last April were their fewest in the opening month of a non-strike-shortened season since 1990. In Los Angeles’ first 31 games, during which the team went 13-18 and fell 7 ½ games back in the AL West, Pujols hit one homer.

2013 OUTLOOK

What could go right: The Angels have some of the elite players in the game: Pujols, Trout, Hamilton and Weaver. If they perform as expected, they’re title contenders.

What could go wrong: The rotation has a few question marks, and Madson is coming off elbow surgery. Plus, the Angels lost the clubhouse’s top leader with Hunter’s departure.

Bottom line: It’s hard to imagine Los Angeles finishing third again with the superstar players it has. Barring disaster, this team looks like the beast the Angels had hoped to be in 2012. And they’ll have Trout on the roster on opening day.